Punch



A ril 12, 1938. c. D. TRUSSELL PUNCH Fiied June 1:5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR Clarence DTrusse/l AT ORNEY c. D." TRussEul PUNCH Filed June13, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. IHWHIII nan lIIHl I Ell/Mil mun U T g M QL-z: R V I g T a \v I we i r I! Q gm iymv? T. 11 i l l' H w N am AT RNEYApril 12, 1938.

C. D. TRUSSELL PUNCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Clarence D. Trussell BY wME.

AT RNEY Filed June 13, 1935 Patented Apr. i2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PUNCH Cisreneel).'lrusseli.lcughkcepsie,8.!.,assimorto-Trusseilcompany- Poughkeeplia N. Y, a causation of New York Application June 1:,ms, Serial No. cases 24 Claims.

This invention relates to power punches generally, but more particularlyto punches such as accurately sage and punch the sheets and which willhave a high production rate and can be economically operated.

Other particular objects of the invention are to enable the quicksetting of the machine to operate on different size sheets and to cutdifferent kinds and numbers of openings in the sheets.

Further objects and the noveifeatures of construction, combinations andrelations of parts by which all such objects are attained, are set forthor will appear from the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specificationillustrate one of the practical commercial embodiments of the invention.It should be understood however, that various structural changes andmodifications may be made all within the true intent of the invention,as will be apparent from the broad scope of the claims.

- Fig. 1 is a broken. front elevation of a punch embodying theinvention, for perforating sheets for loose leaf binders.

Fig. 2 is a View of machine.

Pig. 3 is a plan view substantially as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, withthe ram and other parts uncovered by removal of the top of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal sectional-view substantially as on theplane of line H of Fig. 2 and showing the parts as viewed from below thetable.

Fig. 5 is a broken edge view of the table showing the back and sidegages as registering a group of sheets.

the right hand end of this Fig. 6 is a broken vertical sectional view ona larger scale as on substantially the plane of line 6-8 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 7 is a broken part sectional front view. of

parts appearing after removal of the front plate of the machine. V

Fig. 8 is a broken view of the inner. face of the front plate andshowing the mounting of the front ram guiding rollers therein- The baseor frame of the machine here illustrated is shown in the form of ahollow pedestal l0, having a horizontal table supporting portion 1 i,and above that thespaced end portions ii, for the mounting of the ramand other parts.

The sheets are usually handled in a group or neck such as indicated atit. It is essential that the sheet or sheets be accurately r istered andlocated'with respect to the punch elements and in proper time to beacted on by such elements.

This is accomplished in the illustration through the coaction of twomovable side gages and a back gage with a relatively fixed front gage.

In Fig. 3, the outer or movable back gage is indicated at ll, adjustaoly mounted on a slide l5, operating ina guide groove I6, in the top ofthe table I I, and the left and right hand side gages He indicated atII, I, adjustably mounted on slides 20, 2|, operating in opposedguideways 22, 23, in the. table top.

The fixed front gages are shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, as a row ofregister pins 2!, set in the punch heads or holders 25, at the back' ofthe paper receiving recesses 28 therein.

The back and side gages are alike in having straight gaging edges 21,Fig. 5 of sumcient vertical extent to accommodate a group of sheets,with upwardly inclined inwardly projecting flanges II, to guide anddirect the sheets against these cas ng edges. i

The side gages ll, is, are shown in Fig. 3 as of suflicient longitudinalextent to straighten and register any size sheet that might ordinarilybe The adjustable mounting of the three movable v gages is the same ineach case, involving the provision of the slide bars I5, 2., 2i, eachwith a central rib 2!, and the gages each with a groove 3l, to fit thatrib, said gages also having portions 3i,' at opposite sides of thegroove therein, riding in the guide grooves it, 22, 23, in which theslides are mounted. This construction assures the fix-- ing of the gagesin proper relation on the slides and keeps them in alignment by guidingthem in. the same grooves in which the slides operate.

Quick and simple adjustment of the gages on the operatim' slides isprovided in the illustration, by having a series of spaced screw seats32, .in each slide to take a clampscrew 33, extending down through aslot 34, in the gage, 'in the line'of adjustment. Upon loosening thesescrews, minor adjustments may be readily effected and for majoradjustments, the clamp screws may be entirely removed and set indifferent screw holes in the slides. The slots ll may be ofapproximately the distance-between screw holes, so that considerableadjustment may be made-without having to take out the screws andpreferably they will beat least long enough; in cooperation tending downfrom the slides through slots 41,

48, 49, in the table.

The three levers are inter-connected, so that motion imparted to onewill accomplish move-.

ment of all three.

Lever 35 is the one which is mechanically operated in the presentdisclosure, it being shown as having a sprocket chain 58, connectedtherewith, extending down over a guide sprocket 5|, to the end of lever52, pivoted on the stand at 53, and carrying a roll 54, in engagementwith cam 55, on the end of a cross shaft 56, suitably journalled at theback of the pedestal. A spring 51 is shown connected with the cam leverto cause the roll to closely follow the cam. It will be noted that thisconstruction is effective only to pull the gage operating lever 35, inthe retracting or gage opening direction.

Movement of the gage levers in the reverse, closing direction iseflected in the present construction by coiled springs 58, 59, 68,connected with these levers and anchored to split abutment nuts 8|, 62,63, adjustably clamped on the lower threaded ends of the pivot studs 38,39, 48, by securing screws 64.

The inter-linking of the three gage levers is accomplished in theillustration by a link 65, pivoted at one end to the actuated lever 35at a point 66, adjoining the chain connection 58, and

pivoted at its opposite end to an arm 61, extended beyond the pivotalcenter of lever 36, thus to effect reverse movements of the secondlever; and by a roll 68 on an arm extension 69 of the first leverengaging an arm'extension 18 of the third lever 31, thus to effectretractive movement of the back gage in time with the spreading oropening movement of the side gages.

If desired, the closing movement of one of the side gages may bedetermined by a fixed stop, as by having the actuating lever for thisgage engage a stop pin 1|, Fig. 4, on the underside of the table and insuch case, the link connection 65 between the two side gage levers mayhave lost motion at one end as shown at 12, to permit suflicientindependence of gage movement in the second side gage. The one wayengagement at 68,

18, between the first side gage lever and the back gage lever 31, withproper adjustment of the back gage, leaves this gage member with acertain freedom of action in the gaging direction, independent of thefirst lever. The springs which close the gage levers may beindependently set to properly cooperate in effecting the necessaryinter-relation and if desired, a certain independence of operation, suchas described.

The punch mechanism is operated from the same shaftwhich opens thegages. The cross shaft 56, which carries the gage cam 55, at one end,carries at its opposite end a crank 13, approximately at the center ofthe machine, Fig. 1, with which is engaged a pitman 14, pivoted at itsupper end at 15, to the longer, rearwardly extending arm of a rocker 16.The pitman or crank rod 14, is shown as having an intermediateturnbuckle section 11; providing adjustment for locating the punchposition as may be required.

The forward'shorter arm of the punch rocker has secured to it a seriesof spaced pivot blocks 18, receiving the tubular pivots 19, on which arehung the ram sections 88. These latter are indicated as operatingbetween individual guide rollers 8|, at the front and a single longcontinuous guide roll 82, at the back. The ram sections are indicated ashaving in their lower faces the aligning undercut grooves 83, forming acontinuous keyway for reception of the heads 84, of the punch plungers85. These plungers are slidingly keyed at 86, in the punch blocks 25,and have suitably shaped punch elements 81, cooperating with the dieplates 88, Fig. 6.

With this construction, the holders or blocks -may be shifted to variouspositions transversely of the machine and the punch plungers be engagedwith different sections of the ram.

' To assure proper alignment of the punch blocks and aid in positioningsame, they are shown as being grooved in their upper ends at 89, toreceive a locating bar 98, carried by the front plate 9|, of themachine. The individual punch blocks are shown as having clamp screws92, to grip this locating bar.

Clamp levers 93, engage over the base portions of the punch blocks andthese are adjustably secured by holddown bolts 94, engaged in theundercut way 95, in the base of the machine.

The construction described enables any necessary adjustments andsubstitution of parts to be readily made. The front plate 9| isremovably secured at 96, to the front of the side members I2,

of the frame and can be readily taken off to expose the sectional ramand adjustable punch blocks as at Fig. '1. The ram sections aredeflnitely spaced by having the lugs 91, which receive the hinge tubes,fit closely in between the hinge blocks 18. Set screws 98,. are shownfor fixing the ram sections, to the hinge tubes, so that the latter willpivot in the bearings provided in the hinge blocks. The hinge tubes, inmore or less close fitting abutting engagement, Fig. 7, form asubstantially continuous conduit and chamber for lubricant which may besupplied through an oil cup 99, or the like, Fig. 3, fixed in one endtube, the opposite end tube being suitably closed as by a plug I88. Oilgrooves I8I, may be cut in the abutting ends of the hinge tubes to admitlubricant to the surrounding bearings in the intermepunch load. ScrewsI84, secure them in this keyed relation and enable quick and easyremoval.

The front ram guiding rollers 8| are shown in Figs. 6 and 8 aspositioned in bearings I85, formed in the inner face of the removablefront plate 9|, and the punch block locating bar 98, is illustrated assecured to the inner face of this front plate below these bearings.

Angularly shaped guides I86, are shown as adjustably and removablysecured by screws I81, Figs. 6 and '7, to the punch blocks in positionto surely guide and strip the packs of sheets fed into the punches.

The back guide roll 82 for the ram sections is indicated as journalledat its ends at I88, directly in the side members I2. The shaft I89, onwhich the rocker is journalled is fixedly mounted in these same sidemembers. The rocker 16, is indicated in Figs. 3 and 6, as chambered atII8, to hold lubricant for the bearing portions of the same riding onthe supporting shaft I09.

The combined cam and crank shaft 56, is operated in the presentdisclosure from a short shaft III, Figs. 1 and 2, rimning from front toback of the machine and carrying a worm I I 2, in engagement with a wormgear II3, on shaft 56. ,At'the front, the worm shaft is shown as havinga pulley or series of pulleys Ill, for belt drive from the motor 5,. andat the back this shaft carries a fly wheel I I I5. The two angularlydisposed shafts are indicated as both journalled in the same worm gearcasing III, which thus affords bearing support and lubricationfacilities for both shafts. This arrangement is particularly compactwith the drive from one shaft to the other, intermediate the ends of theshafts and the ends of the shafts exposed, the first one to carry thebelt pulley and fly wheel and the secondflone to carry the ram operatingcrank and the gage operating cam.

A top board or plate I I8, is indicated as removably secured at 9, overthe upper ends of the side members i2, as a cover for the rocker and rammechanism. The ready removability of this top board provides quickaccess to these parts for inspection or other purposes and the removalof the front plate 9|, provides practically complete access to all thepunch mechanism. After removal of the top member and loosening thescrews 92, clamping the punch blocks to the locat ing bar 90, the frontpanel SI, may be released and then lifted up from the punch blocks andthus removed without disturbing the fastening down of the punch blockson the base. I

The making of the ram in sections simplifies manufacture, since theseparts are usually of hardened steel. The same is true of the sectionalpivot tube and the pivot blocks for the ram.

Grooves I2 I, Fig. 3, are shown'provided in the table top for receivingthe fingers in picking the sheets up off the table. The back and sidegages open far enough tofreely receive the sheet or group of sheetsforwhich theyhave been set and the'back gage quicklyadvances the sheetor sheetswhile the sidegages are registering and centering them.

By reason of this cooperative action, no special skill is required, itmerely being necessary that the sheets be placed somewhere within theopened back and side gages. The parts are timed so that the punch comesdown immediately the sheets are located, thus providing maximumproduction. The operator merely has to lay the sheets within the opengages and then remove the punched material. These are safe, easyoperations that can be quickly performed. The machine is particu!- larlyaccurate because both side edges are gaged and because the gagesyieldingly feel and square up the edges of the stack through the mediumof the gage closing springs. The positive motion of the cam opens thegages and the parts preferably are set so that the cam will not delay orimpede the gage closing movements efiected by the springs.Non-interference of this sort may be assured by actually having acertain amount of slack 'irn the gage opening" chain 50, in the gagingposition of the parts, substantially as indicated inFig. 1.

The front of the hollow base is shown as having a hinged door I20,providing ready access for belt changing or other-purposes. If'desired,the back of thebase may be closed in to cover the rocker spirit oftheinvention and within the broad scope of the following claims. Thusinstead of the row of pins 24, the front gage may be formed by acontinuous bar either fixedly or adjustably secured at the back of thepaper receiving groove 26, in the punch heads or holders 25. Also thestripper may be a rigid piece secured in the top of the paper receivingrecess, instead of an angularly bent piece of spring metal, such asindicated at I06, in Fig. 6.

At times, particularly for some special work, it may be desirable toconvert the machine from an automatic to a fixed gage press. This may beaccomplished in the present disclosure by simply retracting one of theside gages and securing it in such retracted position, where it and theother connected side gage and back gage will not be affected by the gageoperating cam.

In the construction illustrated, there is provided 'a shouldered handscrew I22, Fig. 3, which, after the left hand slide 29 has beenretracted, can be inserted through an opening I23, in that slide into ascrew seat I24, in the table. position, this slide will be withdrawnbeyond the extreme limit of retraction ordinarily accomplished by thecam and lever mechanism. Consequently, this and the other gage slideswill stand still while the cam 55 and the lever 52 oscillated therebysimply operate idly, the chain 50 permitting this idle oscillation.

In order that the hand screw I22 be alwa available for the quickconversion of the machine from automatic to fixed gage operation, thefront panel SI is shown as having a screw seat I25, for this screw inposition above the left hand gage slide, so as to be readily associatedtherewith.

The securing of one gage slide, through the interconnection of the slideoperating levers at the underside of the table, effects the securing of.all three gage slides.

Consequently any one or any combination of the three gages may then beemployed in using the machine, the gage or gages to be used being.secured in desired adjusted relation on its or their slide or slides.

The fly wheel H6, at the back of the machine may be used as a hand wheelfor turning the machine over in making preliminary adjustments of thegages and other parts. Operation of the gages from the same mechanismwhich drives the punches assures proper cooperation and timing and thestructure is such that punches and gages may be readily set fordifferent desired operations. 7

While the operation of the gages issuch as to require no special care,other than to place the sheets within the open gages, the combined Insuch operation of punch and gages is such that for the most eflicientresults the operator should have in convenient reach a stack of sheetsto be punched and, in equally convenient position, a holder to receivethe punched sheets. .Accordingly, the machine is preferably equipped, asindicated particularly in Figs. v1 and 3, with a so-called stacker I26,at the right hand side of the feed table II, for holding a supply ofsheets in orderly arrangement to be quickly grasped by one hand and areceiving stacker I21, at the opposite'side of the table in position tohold and stack the sheets which have been punched.

These supply and receiving stackers are mounted soas not to interferewith the operations of the gages and this is accomplished in the presentdisclosure by securing them on clamps I28, I29, slotted at I", to fitover the opposite 7 edges of the table and provided with screws I3I, bywhich they may be held in variously adjusted angular relations on thetable. As shown particularly in Fig. 1, the body portions of theseclamps are high enough to support the stackers above the level of thegages, so as not to interfere with the operation of the gages even inthe maximum opening adjustments of the latter.

By preference, the stackers are open sided boxes, such as illustrated,having flat bottoms I32, and two angularly related back and end wallsI33, I34, arranged as in Fig. '3, on convergent inclines toward thepunch head and with the open front and outer ends toward the operatorwho ordinarily is stationed directly in front of the table in-line withthe gages.

To aid the operator in grasping the top sheets without disturbing therest of the stack, the supply stacker may be constructed with the backwall I33, inclined forwardly, so as to offset the top of the stacktoward the operator, substantially as indicated. This arrangement alsoenables the operator to readily and quickly select the desired number ofsheets for each punch operation. Also as indicated in Fig. 3, the endwall I34, of the feed or supply stacker need not be full length, to givegreater clearance for the quick removal of the sheets'from the top of.the stack. This same construction may be followed in the receivingstacker.

The clamp constructions permit the stackers to be quickly removed andreplaced and enable either one or both stackers to be readily set atdiflerent angles and in different positions on the table to best suit a.particular operator and in accordance with size of sheets, etc. Thisarrangement of supply stacker at one side of the gages and receivingstacker at the opposite side, enables an operator to quickly remove thedesired number of sheets and place them within the gages, with one hand,and then with the other hand to pick up the punched sheets and lay themin reversed order in the receiving stacker, thus keeping the sheets inthe original order. In the receiving stacker they may be quickly truedup at any time by simply pressing on the exposed corner of the stack inthat holder.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a reciprocating punch, .a fixed front gage associatedtherewith, a movable back gage for advancing material to said frontgage, movable side gages for engaging opposite side edges of thematerial and common mechanism for operating said three movable gages andsaid punch in timed relation, including a single shaft having a crankconnection at one end with the punch and a cam connection at theopposite end with the movable gages, said shaft worm intermediate itsends engaging said worm gear and a' drive pulley on one end and a flywheel at the opposite end of the same.

2. In a machine of the character disclosed, the combination of a gageslide, mechanical means for shifting same in a gage retractingdirection, spring means for yieldingly shifting said gage slide in theopposite, gage closing direction and means for securing said gage slideretracted in a position beyond the range of operation of said mechanicalgage opening means.

3. In a machine of the character disclosed, the combination of amaterial supporting table, a movable gage operating thereover, actuatingmeans for said gage, said gage having a separable relation to saidactuating means, a readily removable member for holding the gagestationary and separated from said actuating means, said member beingremovably associated with said gage and a support for said removablemember adjacent said table for holding said member when not in servicein readily accessible position, convenient to said gage.

4. A p oh of the character disclosed, comprising n combination a rocker,a ram pivotally connected therewith, guide means for said ram, 9.locating bar carried by said ram guide means, punch blocks grooved toreceive said locating bar and thereby definitely positioned with respectto said ram, means for securing said punch blocks at different positionsalong said locating bar, plungers in said punch blocks engageable withsaid ram in said different positions along the locating bar, materialgaging mechanism adjustable in respect to said punch plungers and commonmeans for operating said separately adjustable punch and gage mechanismin definitely timed relation.

5. In a punch of the character disclosed, a frame having side members, arocker. journalled between said side members, a roll journalled betweensaid side members, a ram pivoted to said rocker and guided at one sideagainst said roll, a front plate secured to said side members over theram, a roller journalled on said front plate for confining the ramagainst said roll, a table connected with said side members, a movablegage operating over said table and common means for actuating saidrocker and movable gage in definitely timed relation.

6. A punch of the character disclosed, comprising a reciprocating ram,9. headstructure in which the ram is guided, a rocker mounted in saidhead structure for operating said ram, punch blocks, punches in saidblocks detachably engageable with said ram, means for positioning andsecuring the outer portions of said punch blocks in said head structure,means .for adjustably securing the inner portions of said punch blocksin saidhead structure, front gage means carried by said punch blocks,movable side and back gages in cooperative relation to said front gagemeans and common drive means for actuating said rocker and movable gagesin definitely timed relation. I

7. In a punch, a table, a front stop for gaging material on the table, apunch element for operating on material against said front stop, opposedside gages mounted for sliding movement over the table, a back gageslidingly mounted on the table in opposition to the front gage,interconnected levers at the imderside of said table and connected withsaid movable back and side gages, independently tensioned springs actingon said levers for shifting the back and side gages in a material gagingdirection and mechanical means connected with one of said levers foroperating the gages in the reverse direction.

8. In a punch, a table, a front stop for gaging material on the table, apunch element for operating on material against said front stop, opposedside gages mounted for sliding movement over the table, a back gageslidingly mounted onthe table .in opposition to the front gage,interconnected levers at the underside of said table and con- 'nectedwith said movable back and side gages,

the gages in the reverse direction, the table having guide channelstherein and said gages including slides operating in said channels andgage elements adjustably secured on said slides.

9, In combination, a work table, movable gages for positioning work onsaid table, levers pivoted beneath said table and connected with saidgages, springs operating on said ,levers for effecting movement of thegages in the material gaging direction, a cam, a lever operated thereby,a flexible connection from said lever to one of the gage levers forshifting the latter in a gage retracting direction and connectionsbetween the gage levers, whereby movement of the one lever by saidflexible connection will impart movement to another of the gage levers.I

10. In combination, a work table, studs at the underside of said table,levers pivoted on said studs, spring abutments adjustably secured onconnected with said levers.

11. A combination as in claim 10, in which said connecting means betweenthe levers includes mechanism imparting definite movement to all thegages in an opening direction and permitting independently variablemovement of the gages in the closing direction.

12. A punch of the character disclosed, comprising in combination ahollow base, a motor in the bottom of said base, a rearwardly extendingshaft journalled in the base and having a drive connection from themotor on the forward end of the same, a fly wheel on the rearward end ofsaid shaft, a worm on the shaft intermediate the ends of the same, across shaft at the back of the base having a worm gear intermediate theends of the same in mesh with said worm, a crank on the inner end ofsaid worm gear shaft at a substantially central portion of the machine,a cam on the outer end of said shaft, a rocker mounted in the upperportion of the machine, a

pitman connection from said rocker to said crank, a ram operated by saidrocker, a punch element connected with said ram, a lever operated bysaid cam, a front gage associated with the punch, movable side andbackgages in oooperative relation with said' front gageand connectionsfrom said cam lever for imparting movement to said movable side and backgages.

. 13. In a machine of the character disclosed, the combination of afront stop for gaging material, a back gage for advancing material tosaid front stop, opposed side gages for positioning material laterallywith respect'to said front stop and back gage, levers connected withsaid mov-' able back and side gages, independently tensioned springsacting on said levers for shifting the back and side gages in a materialgaging direction, mechanical means connected with one of said levers foroperating the gages in the reverse relation and connecting means betweenthe levers for forcing definite movement to all the gages in the openingdirection and for permitting the independently variable movement of thegages in the closing direction.

14. In a machine of the character disclosed, a work table, a movableback and opposite side gages operable thereover, a stop for limiting theclosing movement of one of said side gages, spring means for shiftingsaid side gage to the extent permitted by said stop, mechanical meansfor shifting said side gage in the reverse direc-' tion, spring meansfor shifting the other side gage and back gage in the closing directionand connections from said mechanical operating means for opening saidother side gage and movable back gage, said connections having lostmotion to permit independent closing movements of said other side gageand back gage.

15. In a machine of the character disclosed, the combination of a feedtable, oppositely operating slides on said feed table, side gagesadjustably connected with said oppositely acting slides, a slide betweensaid oppositely acting slides and operating at a right angle thereto, aback gage adjustably connected with said right angle acting slide andmeans for actuating said slides to bring said back and side gages intocooperative relation with material on said feed table.

16. In a machine of the character disclosed, a feed table, movable backand side gages operable thereover, a stop for definitely limiting theclosing movement of one of said gages and operating means for said gagesincluding connections with lost motion enabling movement of one gageindependently of said fixed movement of said first mentioned gage.

17. In a machine of the character disclosed, the combination of a feedtable for supporting a stack of superimposed sheets, a front gage at theforward edge of said table for positioning the forward edges of a stackof sheets advanced over the table, oppositely operating reciprocatingslides at the sides of said feed table, side gages connected with saidoppositely acting slides for registering the side edges of a stack ofsheets on the table, a reciprocating slide at the back of the table andoperating substantially at a right angle to said side gage slides, aback gage connected tioning the forward edges of a stack of sheets onthe table, oppositely acting gages at the sides of the table havingsubstantially straight vertical edges for gaging the side edges of astack of sheets and having upwardly inclined inwardly projecting flangesto confine and direct the sheets against said substantially straightvertical gaging edges, a back gage between and operating substantiallyat a right angle to said side gages and having a substantially verticaledge for engaging the back edges of a stack of sheets and advancing thesame to said front gage and means for actuating said oppositely actingside gages and said back gage in definitely timed relation.

19. In a machine ,of the character disclosed, the combination of a feedtable for supporting a stack of superimposed sheets, a front gage at theforward edge of said table for positioning the forward edges of a stackof sheets advanced over the table, oppositely operating reciprocatingslides at the sides of said feed table, side gages connected with saidoppositely acting slides for registering the side edges of a stack ofsheets on the table, a reciprocating slide at the back of the table andoperating substantially at a right angle to said side gage slides, aback gage connected with said back slide, means for enabling relativeadjustment of said gages to effect registration of all four sides of astack of sheets deposited on the table between the opened gages,actuating means for said reciprocating slides operating to close theside gages toward each other and to close the stack of looselysuperimposed sheets, a front gage at the forward edge of said table forpositioning the forward edges of a stack of sheets advanced over thetable, oppositely operating reciprocating side gages havingsubstantially vertical edges extending upwardly from the table surfacefor registering the side edges of a stack of sheets on the table betweensaid side gages, a reciprocating back gage operating substantially at aright angle between said side gages and having a substantially verticaledge rising from the table surface for engaging and registering the backedges of a stack of sheets in the act of advancing said sheets to thefront gage, operating mechanism for said side and back gages, includingmeans for approaching the side gages as the back gage advances thesheets to the front gage, resilient means for relatively closing theside gages and a fixed stop for limiting the. closing movement of one ofsaid side gages.

21. In a machine of the character disclosed,

vthe combination of a feed table for supporting a stack of looselysuperimposed sheets, a front gage at the forward edge of said table forposi-' surface for engaging and registering the back edges of a stack ofsheets in the act of advancing said sheets to' the front gage, operatingmechanism for said side and back gages, including means for approachingthe side gages as the back gage advances the sheets to the front gage,resilient means for relatively closing the side gages,

a fixed stop for limiting the closing movement of one of said sidegages, a punch located to operate on a stack of sheets so registered andadvanced over the feed table and operating means for lowering said punchas the sheets are positioned and registered against said front gage andfor raising said punch as the gages are opened.

22. A machine for feeding, accurately registering and punching a stackof registered sheets, comprising a stationary feed table, a front gageat the forward edge of said feed table for positioning the forward edgesof a stack of superimposed sheets on the table, a punch overstandingsaid front gage for operating on a stack of sheets registered againstsaid front gage, oppositely operating reciprocating side gages atopposite sides of said feed table, a reciprocating back gage between andoperating at substantially a right angle to said side gages, saidmovable side gages and back gage having substantially vertical edgesrising from 'saidtable surface for registering a 5 plurality ofsuperimposed sheets deposited on the table between the opened gages,means for operating said side gages and back gage to advance andregister a stack of sheets on the table in definite position against thefront gage and operating 10 means for lowering the punch as the stack ofsheets is registered against the front gage and for raising the punch torelease the stack of sheets upon opening movement of the gages asdescribed.

23. A machine for feeding, accurately register- 15 ing and punching astack of registered sheets, comprising a stationary table for supportinga stack of loose sheets, a front gage at the forward edge of said tablefor definitely positioning the forward edges of a stack of sheets on the20 from said front gage, reciprocating side gages 25 operatingoppositely over said stationary table in front of said back gage, meansfor operating said back gage to advance a stack of sheets deposited onthe table into engagement with said front gage, means for'advancing saidside gages 30.

toward each other to register the opposite side edges of a stack ofsheets on the table thus advanced by the back gage and means forlowering the punch as the stack of sheets is so advanced and registeredand for raising the punch 35 in definitely timed relation to theopposite sheet releasing movement of said reciprocating gages.

24. A machine for automatically feeding and registering a loose stack ofsheets and for punching the stack when registered. in accurately 40aligned order, comprising a stationary table for receiving andsupporting a loose stack of the sheets deposited loosely thereon, afront gage at the forward edge of said table for definitely positioningthe forward edges of such a stack of 43 sheets on the table, a punchoverstanding said front gage for operating on such a stack of sheetswhen registered against said front gage, a reciprocating back gagemovable over said stationary table toward and away from said. frontgage,

oppositely disposed relatively movable side gages over said stationarytable at the front of said movable back gage, means for reciprocatingsaid back gage to advance a stack of sheets so deposited on the tableinto engagement with said front gage and to retract said back gage awayfrom the front gage to provide space on the table in front of said backgage and between said front and back gages for reception of a loosestack of sheets, means for effecting relative approach and separation ofsaid side gages toward and away from each other to register the oppositeside edges of a stack of sheets on the table between the front and backgages and to open to leave space on the table for a loose stack ofsheets between timed relation to the opposite stack disengaging relativeopening movement of said gages.

CLARENCE D. 'I'RU'ssELL.

